The Senate has 100 members and is the upper house of the United States Congress. It is called the upper house because it has fewer members than the House of Representatives and has powers not granted to the House, such as giving approval to appointments of Cabinet secretaries and federal judges. What is higher than … Read more
Per traditions, the longest serving senator of the majority party is named president pro tempore of the Senate, the second-highest office in the Senate and the third in the line of succession to the presidency of the United States. What is the longest serving senator called? Per traditions, the longest serving senator of the majority … Read more
In the 117th Congress, the current party alignments as of December 13, 2022,6 are as follows: House of Representatives: 222 Democrats (including 4 Delegates), 215 Republicans (including 1 Delegate and the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico), and 4 vacant seats. How many Democrats are in the House of Representatives? In the 117th Congress, the current … Read more
On June 26, with a 7 to 4 vote, the delegates compromised and adopted six-year terms for the Senate. In Federalist No. 62, James Madison defended six-year terms for senators, insisting that six-year terms would have a stabilizing effect on the new national government. Why is a senators term 6 years? On June 26, with … Read more
Until the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913, Senators were chosen by state legislatures, not by popular vote. Since then, they have been elected to six-year terms by the people of each state. Senators’ terms are staggered so that about one-third of the Senate is up for reelection every two years. How long is … Read more
The Constitution sets three qualifications for service in the U.S. Senate: age (at least thirty years of age); U.S. citizenship (at least nine years); and residency in the state a senator represents at time of election. What is the minimum age for senator? The Constitution sets three qualifications for service in the U.S. Senate: age … Read more
Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are considered for reelection every even year. Senators however, serve six-year terms and elections to the Senate are staggered over even years so that only about 1/3 of the Senate is up for reelection during any election. How long is a term in the House … Read more
A select committee report to the 39th Congress identified the “officers of the United States” with “appointment herein provided for” as “the President, Vice President, and members of Congress”, despite having considered at least part of the Incompatibility Clause. Is the vice president an officer of the United States? A select committee report to the … Read more
The Constitution names the vice president of the United States as the president of the Senate. In addition to serving as presiding officer, the vice president has the sole power to break a tie vote in the Senate and formally presides over the receiving and counting of electoral ballots cast in presidential elections. What is … Read more
Hastert was the longest-serving Republican Speaker of the House in history. After Democrats gained a majority in the House in 2007, Hastert resigned and began work as a lobbyist. Who is the longest running Republican Speaker of the House? Hastert was the longest-serving Republican Speaker of the House in history. After Democrats gained a majority … Read more